Fewer in N.J. seek emergency food stamps after Sandy

Fewer people in New Jersey requested and received emergency food stamps in New Jersey after Superstorm Sandy.

So far, the state has rejected 2,170 of the 9,111 households that sought assistance.

That compares to 56,081 who were approved after Tropical Storm Irene last year.

The weeklong program gives storm victims between $200 and $800 in food stamps.

The state toughened rules for Sandy after estimating about 10,000 Irene applicants last year shouldn’t have received benefits.

Passaic County social services director Mark Schiffer tells The Record newspaper word got around that officials were being strict and a lot of people didn’t bother.

Applicants had to show proof of more than $100 worth of expenses and provide identification for everyone in their household. Counties eventually stopped requiring receipts for storm-related expenses.